Another day, another leadoff man: Kim talks about batting atop order

Another day, another leadoff man: Kim talks about batting atop order
The Orioles will use their fifth different leadoff hitter in the last six games and their third different one in this series tonight. Hyun Soo Kim will hit leadoff for the first time as an Oriole in the series finale against Toronto. "It is always important for someone to do right on the first time you go out," Kim said today through his translater Danny Lee. "So I will make sure I do everything that I need to as leadoff and whatever the team wants, I will do it. I will probably have the...
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Pedro Alvarez heaps some praise on Manny Machado (plus other notes)

Pedro Alvarez heaps some praise on Manny Machado (plus other notes)
When Orioles third baseman Manny Machado swung at an 0-1 pitch and drove in into the Toronto bullpen in left-center field in the fifth inning last night, it was impressive in a lot of ways. The homer came at a big time. It broke a 1-1 tie and put the Orioles ahead 3-1. It came off 17-game winner J.A. Happ, a strong Cy Young candidate. And it was a blast that went 438 feet. Yep, it was a bomb. It was also the 32nd of his season and the 100th of his career. Machado became the youngest Oriole ever...
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Manny Machado on his 100th homer (plus more clubhouse quotes)

Manny Machado on his 100th homer (plus more clubhouse quotes)
On a night the Orioles picked up a huge win, Matt Wieters hit a big homer late, Steve Pearce had a big one much earlier and Manny Machado hit one to reach a nice round number. Machado's 438-foot, two-run homer in the fifth gave the Orioles, at the time, a two-run lead. It was also the 100th homer of his career and 32nd of this season. Machado became the youngest Oriole to hit 100 home runs, doing so at 24 years and 55 days. The previous youngest, Eddie Murray, got there at 24 years and 177...
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Wieters' homer breaks tie and Machado hits No. 100 as O's top Jays

Wieters' homer breaks tie and Machado hits No. 100 as O's top Jays
Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez gave the Orioles a strong start. Catcher Matt Wieters gave the Orioles a huge homer that produced a lead and a win. Wieters' two-run shot off Jason Grilli in the bottom of the eighth broke a tie and lifted the Orioles to a 5-3 win over Toronto tonight at Camden Yards. The Orioles improved to 72-60 and moved back within three game of first place. The Orioles had been 3-11 in their last 14 American League East games, but they hit three homers tonight to pick up a big...
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O's game blog: A look at tonight's game and farm system notes

O's game blog: A look at tonight's game and farm system notes
After last night's 5-1 loss to Toronto where the Orioles were held to four hits, the all-bird matchup continues at Camden Yards tonight with the Orioles (71-60) hosting the first-place Blue Jays (75-56). The Orioles are now a season-high four games out of first place. They do hold the second wild card spot in the American League, but by just one game over Detroit, by two over Houston and Kansas City and by three games over Seattle. The Orioles are just 3-11 in their last 14 AL East games. They...
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Oliver Drake talks about role change from closer to multi-inning reliever

Oliver Drake talks about role change from closer to multi-inning reliever
Right-handed pitcher Oliver Drake returned to the Orioles on Sunday. This time he comes back to the team after a role change at Triple-A Norfolk. Before he joined the Orioles for four games in June, Drake was a one-inning closer for the Tides and he went 10-for-12 in save chances. When he went back on June 30, he began to pitch longer outings and earlier in the game. "It was a little different," Drake said of the change. "Before I was coming in and knowing I was done after one inning. Now I...
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The Orioles' recent record against American League East is dismal

The Orioles' recent record against American League East is dismal
There was a time when the Orioles were playing around .700 baseball at home and they were in first place in the American League East with a 24-13 (.649) record against division opponents. But right now the Orioles don't win as much at home or against AL East opponents. They have lost four straight series in the division and lost last night 5-1 to Toronto at Camden Yards. Any time the Orioles build a bit of positive momentum, it doesn't last. When they won a series at San Francisco, ending it...
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Wade Miley on his outing, J.J. Hardy on the loss to Toronto

Wade Miley on his outing, J.J. Hardy on the loss to Toronto
Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy homered and singled in three at-bats tonight - and that was half of the club's hits as the Orioles went 4-for-30 as a team in a 5-1 loss to Toronto. Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada has had a strong year, but he had given up 11 runs in nine innings in his last two starts. But that trend did not continue in this game to open a key three-game series. He went seven innings plus a batter, allowing one run, to pick up his eighth win. He is 3-1 with an ERA of 3.17 in...
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O's offense quieted, loss to Jays drops them four games out

O's offense quieted, loss to Jays drops them four games out
On the first night of a critical series with American League East leader Toronto, the Orioles got a strong starting pitching performance, but their offense was quieted by Blue Jays right-hander Marco Estrada. Estrada allowed just four hits and a run in seven-plus innings as Toronto beat the Orioles 5-1 in front of 15,532 at Camden Yards. The Orioles (71-60) fall four games behind the first-place Blue Jays with two games to go in the series. Estrada outdueled Orioles left-hander Wade Miley as...
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O's game blog: Important O's-Jays AL East series begins at Camden Yards

O's game blog: Important O's-Jays AL East series begins at Camden Yards
They have been the leaders in the American League East more days this season (111 of 148) than any other team. But with 32 games left, the Orioles find themselves three games out of first place. They get a chance to cut into that deficit the next three days, hosting first-place Toronto at Camden Yards. The Orioles (71-59) have won four of seven, but have lost 19 of 32 games over a longer stretch and they are 20-23 since the All-Star break. Toronto (74-56) is a season-high 18 games over the .500...
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For Tommy Hunter, another day and interview, plus more one liners

For Tommy Hunter, another day and interview, plus more one liners
Right-hander Tommy Hunter has been an Oriole again for just over 24 hours and he did his third interview since rejoining the team today. He had one before and after yesterday's game at Yankee Stadium and today was the first chance for much of the Baltimore media to talk to him because the team was on the road Sunday. So, per usual with Hunter, it was a lively session mixed with serious answers and one liners. He is never not entertaining. A reporter remarked he had a different locker this time...
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Chris Davis talks homers, pitching, pressure and more

Chris Davis talks homers, pitching, pressure and more
NEW YORK - During an expansive pregame interview Sunday where he called his season "disappointing on a number of levels," Orioles first baseman Chris Davis hit on a number of topics. They included the team's home run potential, the ups and downs of the pitching staff, and the pressure that goes with signing a big contract. In January, Davis signed the biggest contract in Orioles history when the club re-signed him to a seven-year deal worth $161 million. It pays Davis $17 million per season...
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Showalter on Gausman, Trumbo on No. 40 and more clubhouse quotes

Showalter on Gausman, Trumbo on No. 40 and more clubhouse quotes
NEW YORK - Considering that the New York Yankees had torched Orioles pitching for 27 runs on 36 hits the past two days, throwing a shutout this afternoon was a nice upgrade. And, it provided a much-needed Orioles win. Right-hander Kevin Gausman gave up seven hits and fanned nine over seven innings as the Orioles beat the Yankees 5-0 to avoid a sweep and record their fifth shutout. Gausman improved to 6-10 with a 3.73 ERA and has thrown 13 scoreless his past two starts. He is 1-1 with an ERA of...
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Davis on blowout losses, Hunter on O's reunion (O's win, 5-0)

Davis on blowout losses, Hunter on O's reunion (O's win, 5-0)
NEW YORK - The Orioles have suffered two blowout losses at Yankee Stadium the last two days. While all losses count the same, they may not feel the same. Orioles first baseman Chris Davis seemed to agree with that sentiment when I asked him this morning about the recent run of blowout losses. "We don't like it," Davis said. "It is one thing to get beat and it's one thing to kind of get your face rubbed in it. It can be something that really unites a team and ignites a fire. I think with...
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Showalter pregame on Hunter, Tillman, Jones and more

Showalter pregame on Hunter, Tillman, Jones and more
NEW YORK - It has been a busy day at Yankee Stadium for the Orioles roster. Tommy Hunter was signed to a major league contract. Oliver Drake was recalled from Triple-A and T.J. McFarland and Julio Borbon were designated for assignment. Hunter was 2-2 with a 3.74 ERA in 21 relief appearances with the Indians. He hasn't pitched in the majors since July 9 and sustained a non-displaced fracture in his back after falling at his home during the All-Star break. "We need some arms," Showalter said...
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O's blog: Orioles look to salvage series finale at Yankee Stadium

O's blog: Orioles look to salvage series finale at Yankee Stadium
NEW YORK - Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman is out to end a long streak of unsuccessful outings on the road. Gausman is winless in his last 25 road starts. His last win away from Camden Yards was on Aug. 17, 2014 at Cleveland. In his 25 road starts since, Gausman is 0-16 with an ERA of 5.55. This season, Gausman has looked very different on the home and on the road. In 10 starts at Oriole Park, he is 5-1 with a 2.48 ERA. In 13 road starts, he is 0-9 with a 5.32 ERA and .296 batting average...
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Looking for an elusive win at Yankee Stadium

Looking for an elusive win at Yankee Stadium
NEW YORK - We certainly would not expect to hear any players or manager Buck Showalter say it, but the Orioles have to be a bit shaken by the events of this weekend at Yankee Stadium. They came here off an impressive 3-1 run against the Nationals. But the Orioles have allowed 27 runs and 36 hits in back-to-back blowout losses to the Yankees. They have fallen three games off the pace in the American League East. Right now, they are closer to the fourth-place Yankees (leading by 2 1/2 games) then...
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Clubhouse quotes after a second straight blowout loss

Clubhouse quotes after a second straight blowout loss
NEW YORK - After a second straight blowout loss at Yankee Stadium, the Orioles' recent pitching numbers look bleak. Now the fans have to hope the season outlook doesn't match that. The Orioles fell to 70-59 with today's 13-5 loss to the Yankees. Toronto beat Minnesota, so the Orioles are three games out of first in the American League East and trying to hang onto the second AL wild card. Whatever positives they put forth in winning three of four from the Nationals have been washed away amid...
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Davis hits O's 200th homer (O's routed 13-5 at New York)

Davis hits O's 200th homer (O's routed 13-5 at New York)
NEW YORK - The Orioles have now hit 200 or more homers for five straight seasons. Chris Davis connected on a two-run shot in the third inning today that was No. 31 for him and No. 200 for the 2016 Orioles. Davis drilled a 2-1 slider from Chad Green to center field to score Mark Trumbo, who walked ahead of him. It was the seventh home run in the last 11 games for Davis. It gave the Orioles a 2-1 lead. The Orioles hit 214 home runs in 2012, 212 in 2013, 211 in 2014 and 217 last season. The last...
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Showalter on Jones' injury, Borbon's addition and more

Showalter on Jones' injury, Borbon's addition and more
NEW YORK - With center fielder Adam Jones not starting today because of a left hamstring strain, the Orioles added outfielder Julio Borbon, who is starting in center field this afternoon. The Orioles selected Borbon's contract from Double-A Bowie and optioned pitcher Mike Wright to Triple-A Norfolk, where he will re-enter the Tides rotation in a few days. To get Borbon on the 40-man roster, pitcher Logan Ondrusek was designated for assignment. Borbon, 30, hit .275/.336/.362 with nine doubles,...
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